In some dog-related circles, the question of surgical sterilization, otherwise known as spaying (females) and neutering (males) is sure to spark hot debate. And while pet overpopulation and euthanasia are a continuing problem, the Orange Walk Town Council will be engaging in a first Dog and Cat Sterilization Campaign to spay your pets. Deputy Mayor, Ian Cal, says saying or neutering your dog is an important part of responsible pet ownership and is the most humane way for population control of stray pets.

Ian Cal – Deputy Mayor, OWTC

“An avenue the council use to take before and it has been done for many years is the dog eradication where at least every six months the Council goes around and eradicates stray dogs and cats or whatever pets are on the streets and it is an inhumane way of doing things but it was a way on getting it done so we as a council decide that it is not the best option, after consultation with many of the residence as well there are many dog lovers and pet lover sin this country but we want to see the best way on how we can take care of those animals, so the best way or another avenue to take is the sterilization of the pets and so what the council is doing this 18th and 19th of this month we are having the pets sterilization program where a group of VETS are coming and we are going to be at the Orange Walk Technical High School from 9am and we are inviting the residence to bring in their pets but they need to sign up first and we have space for about 250 cats and dogs, you can just visit the council and sign up your pet and it is going to be free of cost just take it to the high school and we are going to have the VETS there and it is a new way to taking care of them as well and to prevent a amount of dogs lurking the streets of Orange Walk.”

The sterilization campaign will be held on October 18th and 19th at the Orange Walk Technical High School. The service is free of charge and pet owners are encouraged to sign up before the dates as limited space are available.

Town Council Looks at Dog Sterilization

For years the conventional way of controlling the population of stray dogs and cats has been eradicating them through poisoning. Though this procedure has been defended by authorities and vets that it’s not as cruel as it seems recently a number of local animal rights defenders have come to these innocent creatures’ aid requesting for alternatives measures to be explored in order to address the socio-health problem. It is with this objective that the Orange Walk Town Council has partnered with CAATS to carry out a first of its kind public and free of cost dog spaying and neutering. Deputy Mayor of Orange Walk Ian Cal says the activity is one that aims at helping pet owners and at the same time controlling the stray dog and cat population.

IAN CAL

“We have a lot of people that are against dog eradication including myself. It is something we do not like to condone but it is an avenue that the council used to take for many years and I think it is about time that we start to look at other avenues. Although it is not cheap and it’s not an easy way to find people to work with us but we have been blessed by an organization by the name of CATS. These are the people that are coming in on the weekend, the 18th and 19th, two days, to be here with us in Orange Walk town to look at the other avenue which is dog sterilization. This is a way of keeping control of the dog or cats population in our community. As you know it is hazardous it is something that we have to deal with but it’s a new way of dealing with the dog population.”

The Orange Walk Town Council is asking pet owners to register their animals by calling 670-2053 or they can also do walk in at the Orange Walk Technical High School on Saturday and Sunday. The medical procedure is free of cost.